When you have a family as big as mine—six kids and spouses and twenty grandkids, and two great-grandkids—planning a family reunion is a little like herding ladybugs in a windstorm.  But somehow, we pulled it off.

In the summer of 2025, we gathered in Southern Utah for something that’s been on my heart for years: our first-ever Big Fat Family Reunion.

Not everyone could make it—life is busy, babies are being born, and flights aren’t cheap—but most of the 36 of us came together. Some hadn’t seen each other in years. Some met for the very first time. And somehow, we all squeezed into a weekend full of laughter, chaos, and memories that I’ll never forget.

 Day One: Tacos & Togetherness

We kicked off the reunion with a good old-fashioned Taco Night. Everyone helped chop, stir, and stuff their tortillas, and the kitchen sounded like a fiesta crossed with a food fight—exactly how I like it.

After dinner, we jumped into swimsuits and headed for the pool and jacuzzi. Watching the grandkids splash, the teens do cannonballs, and the adults melt into hot water and conversation… my heart could’ve burst. It was beautiful.

 Day Two: Zion’s Narrows Adventure

Not everyone was up for the challenge, but a brave crew of us decided to hike the Narrows in Zion National Park. It started out gentle—just ankle-deep water—but before long, some of us were wading waist-deep through canyon waters, laughing and cheering each other on.

It was breathtaking. And exhausting. And so worth it.

That night, we gathered at my oldest son Chris and his wife Tiffany’s house for a cookout under the stars. We were worn out but full of that good kind of tired—the kind that comes from being together, from showing up for each other.

 Day Three: Quail Lake Thrills

To wrap it up, we went out to Quail Lake, where Chris and Tiff brought the boat. The kids (and grownups!) went wakeboarding, some of us jumped off cliffs, and we all soaked in the sun, the spray, and the joy.

We were loud. We were sandy. We were sunburned and smiling.

 The Afterglow

It wasn’t perfect. We had chaos, forgotten swimsuits, cranky toddlers, and a few sibling squabbles. But that’s real family. And at the end of it all, what I felt was overwhelming gratitude.

To have my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all in one place—meeting, reconnecting, laughing, healing—was a dream come true.

I watched cousins play who had never met. I saw generations connect. I felt the legacy of love that’s been built over years of joy, pain, and everything in between.

And today, as everyone packs up and heads home, I’m sitting here with a tired body, a full heart, and the sweet, echoing sound of laughter still in my ears.

Grandma Wendy Reflection:

You don’t need perfection to make a memory—you just need people you love, a few tacos, some nature, and a willingness to let it all unfold.

Family is messy. Family is magic. And this weekend was both.

Here’s to many more Big Fat Family Reunions. 

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With love,

Grandma Wendy